H.B. No. 3485

AN ACT

relating to career and technical education provided by school districts and certain postsecondary institutions.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 28.0022 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.0022. REVIEW PANEL FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM. (a) Not later than November 1, 2007, the agency shall establish a panel under this section to:

(1) review and recommend revisions to the career and technical education curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(2)(F); and

(2) review and recommend revisions for the program in which high schools and articulated postsecondary institutions allow high school students to take advanced technical credit courses.

(b) The panel established under this section shall consist of:

(1) individuals who have expertise developing or administering career and technical education programs; and

(2) employers who hire students who have obtained certification or credentials under a career and technical education program.

(c) A member of the panel serves on a voluntary basis without compensation.

(d) Not later than November 1, 2008, the panel shall:

(1) complete the review as required by this section of:

(A) the career and technical education curriculum; and

(B) the program under which high schools and articulated postsecondary institutions allow high school students to take advanced technical credit courses; and

(2) make recommendations to the State Board of Education as necessary to:

(A) increase the academic rigor of the career and technical education curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(2)(F); and

(B) improve and increase participation in the program under which high schools and articulated postsecondary institutions allow high school students to take advanced technical credit courses.

(e) Not later than September 1, 2009, the State Board of Education by rule shall revise the essential knowledge and skills of the career and technical education curriculum as provided by Section 28.002(c) based on the recommendations of the panel under Subsection (d). The State Board of Education shall require school districts to provide instruction in the career and technical education curriculum, as revised under this subsection, beginning with the 2010-2011 school year.

(f) This section expires September 1, 2014.

SECTION 2. Section 28.009, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:

(a) Each school district shall implement a program under which students may earn the equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours of college credit in high school. On request, a public institution of higher education in this state shall assist a school district in developing and implementing the program. The college credit may be earned through:

(1) international baccalaureate, advanced placement, or dual credit courses;

(2) articulated postsecondary courses provided for local credit or articulated postsecondary advanced technical credit courses provided for state credit; or

(3) any combination of the courses described by Subdivisions (1) and (2).

(c) Each school district shall annually report to the agency:

(1) the number of district students, including career and technical students, who have participated in the program and earned college credit; and

(2) the cumulative number of courses in which participating district students have enrolled and college credit hours the students have earned.

(d) In this section:

(1) "Career and technical student" means:

(A) a secondary education student who has entered the first course in a sequence of two or more technical courses for three or more credits in a career and technical education program; or

(B) a student who:

(i) is enrolled in an academic or workforce course that is part of a sequence of courses leading to an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or degree; and

(ii) has declared that sequence of courses as the student's major course of study.

(2) "Sequence of courses" means career and technical education courses approved by the State Board of Education, innovative courses approved by the State Board of Education that are provided for local credit, or a tech-prep program of study under Section 61.852.

SECTION 3. Section 28.0212, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:

(g) Each school district is encouraged to establish for each student entering grade nine a personal graduation plan that identifies a course of study that:

(1) promotes:

(A) college and workforce readiness; and

(B) career placement and advancement; and

(2) facilitates the student's transition from secondary to postsecondary education.

SECTION 4. Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b-1) and adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows:

(b-1) The State Board of Education by rule shall require that:

(1) except as provided by Subsection (b-2), the curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced high school programs under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students successfully complete four courses in each subject of the foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1); and

(2) one or more courses offered in the required curriculum for the recommended and advanced high school programs include a research writing component.

(b-2) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State Board of Education shall allow a student to comply with the curriculum requirements for a mathematics course under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after the successful completion of an Algebra II course or science course under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after the successful completion of a physics course by successfully completing an advanced career and technical course designated by the State Board of Education as containing substantively similar and rigorous academic content. A student may use the option provided by this subsection for not more than two courses.

SECTION 5. Section 42.154, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the commissioner shall develop and implement a pilot program under which a school district is entitled to additional funding for each student receiving career and technology instruction in grade eight. The commissioner shall select not more than five school districts for participation in the pilot program. In selecting school districts for participation, the commissioner shall consider school districts that can provide services under the program at the least cost. For each full-time equivalent student in grade eight in average daily attendance in an approved career and technology education program, a school district participating in the program under this subsection is entitled to an annual allotment equal to the adjusted basic allotment multiplied by a weight of 1.35. Funds allocated under this subsection, other than an indirect cost allotment established under State Board of Education rule, must be used in providing career and technology programs in grade eight under Sections 29.182, 29.183, and 29.184. A school district is entitled to an allotment under this subsection for each school year through the completion of the 2011-2012 school year. Not later than January 1, 2013, the agency shall prepare and deliver to each member of the legislature a report describing the effectiveness of the pilot program described by this subsection. This subsection expires February 1, 2013.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all of the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 3485 was passed by the House on May 9, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 1, 1 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 3485 was passed by the Senate on May 22, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________

Date

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Governor